Instant access to everything at any time – that’s the mantra your users live by. Whether it’s travel information, fast food, gig tickets, or current affairs, they expect quick, seamless experiences across the board. Your website is no exception. It’s a hub of information, events, and opportunities that many rely on to support their daily and social lives. So, why shouldn’t they expect the same speed and usability from your site as they get from ASOS or Amazon?

Meeting these high expectations might feel like a challenge, but with the right approach, it is well within your reach. Here are some practical tips to ensure your website delivers fast, reliable, and enjoyable experience for your students:

Optimise Your Website’s Performance

Performance optimisation is the backbone of an effective website. A slow-loading site frustrates users and can lead to higher bounce rates, especially among younger, tech-savvy audiences who are accustomed to instant gratification. Here’s how you can make your website faster and more efficient:

• Faster Page Loading Times: Page load times matter. Compress images (less than 500kb) and consider web friendly image formats. Leverage browser caching so returning visitors don’t have to reload the same assets. Minimise redirects to speed things up. HTML bloat and having a lot of external plug-ins can also cause web pages to slow down.
• Streamlined Navigation: Keep menus intuitive and consistent. For instance, group student-focused content like clubs, societies, and events under a single, easy-to-locate tab. Consider including a search bar for larger websites to allow users to locate information quickly – just like Netflix’s search function helps users find films without endless scrolling.
• Mobile-Friendly Design: With over 50%* of web traffic coming from mobile devices, your site must perform flawlessly on all screens. Meaning responsive design is non-negotiable. Test your site across multiple devices and screen sizes to ensure seamless performance. For example, if your event registration page isn’t optimised for mobile, students may struggle to book tickets, reducing turnout and engagement.
• Minimise Clutter: Simplify your layouts. Overloaded pages not only slow down performance but can also overwhelm users. By keeping pages less busy and utilising white space, key content can stand out. All the content on your page is fighting for attention, so by keeping this to a minimum you’ll make it far easier for your students to find the things they are looking for. Focus on clean design and prioritise essential content to guide users effectively.

Enhance User Engagement

Engaging your users goes beyond aesthetics. It’s about creating meaningful interactions and ensuring visitors find value in their online experience. Here are some strategies to boost engagement:

• Engagement and Loyalty with Tailored Experiences: Personalised web experiences keep users coming back through more relevant and engaging content. By leveraging tools like user preferences, browsing history, or geolocation, you can tailor content to individual needs – improving user satisfaction.
• Clear Calls to Action: Make it easy for users to complete tasks such as signing up, purchasing, or registering by using prominent, actionable buttons. Use concise and compelling language like “Join Now” or “Get Started” to motivate users. As well as the language, consider using colours to help them stand out.
• Interactive Features: Polls, forms, quizzes, and live chat options can keep users engaged and encourage interaction. For example, consider hosting live Q&A sessions or embedding forums to build a sense of community, showing how interactive data can engage users.
• Accessible Content: Ensure your website meets accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG compliance) to cater to all users, including those with disabilities. Use alt text for images, provide transcripts for videos, and ensure sufficient contrast in your colour scheme so all can engage with your content seamlessly.

Monitor and Maintain Your Website

A great website isn’t built and forgotten. Continuous monitoring and maintenance are crucial to ensure a seamless experience for users over time. Here’s how you can keep your website in top shape:

• Regular Updates: Keep your site fresh with current information and regularly updated content. A content calendar can help you keep on track while also prioritising what content needs to be written or updated. Outdated information can harm your credibility and disengage users.
• Performance Monitoring: Using analytics tools like Google Analytics or website performance tools like GTmetrix to track metrics such as load times, bounce rates, and user behaviour. Regularly review these metrics to identify and resolve bottlenecks.
• Security: Up-to-date security measures protect your users’ data and reinforce trust in your website.
• User Feedback: Continuously collect and act on feedback to refine the online experience. Implement surveys, feedback forms, or even usability testing sessions to understand user pain points and preferences.

Prioritise Content Strategy

Content is king, but only when it’s well-structured, relevant, and easy to consume. A strong content strategy can significantly improve your website’s user experience. Here are some tips:

• Clear Messaging: Ensuring your website’s purpose is immediately evident. Avoid jargon and use plain language to communicate effectively with your students. A/B test elements such as titles or language to gain a better understanding of what works for your audience.
• Engaging Visuals: Incorporate high-quality images, videos, and infographics to break up text and make your site visually appealing. Remember to be mindful of file sizes to avoid slowing down your site.
• Content Hierarchy: Use headings, subheadings, and bullet points to structure your content. This makes it easier for users to scan and find the information they need. Only have one H1 per page, use H2s for sections and H3s for subsections (You’ll see these as styles on your Content Management System, usually preset to paragraph).
• SEO Best Practices: Optimise your content for search engines by including relevant keywords, meta descriptions, and alt text for images. Use Keyword tools such as SEMrush or SERankings to find keywords students are searching for, ensuring your site’s visibility and attracts more users. Another great tip is ensuring you use internal linking to join pages of relevant content together so your students can easily move from one page to another.

Foster Community and Interaction

Websites that encourage interaction and foster a sense of community tend to see higher engagement. Here’s how you can create a collaborative online space:

• User-Generated Content: Allow users to contribute through reviews, comments, or shared posts. This not only increases engagement but also builds authenticity, enhancing trust through social proof.
• Event Integration: Promote events directly on your site, complete with registration forms and schedules. Highlight upcoming events keeps users engaged and informed.
• Social Media Integration: Make it easy for users to share content from your site to their social media platforms. Include sharing buttons and encourage user interaction beyond your website. Likewise integrate your social media feeds into your website so that this content is also available and encourages real-time interaction.

Bit of a Tall Order?

Well, no – in fact MSL includes server migrations and updates to the hardware that supports your website, resulting in a significant improvement to your overall website performance. Faster page loading, quicker access to your online shop, minimal delay in grabbing tickets to the next big gig or joining the most popular club on campus - your users' customer experience just went up several notches.

Here’s a snapshot from one MSL website showing response times before and after the server migrations. Whilst the majority of your website users – and that’s public and staff - might not have noticed the improvement, the increased capacity, storage and faster response times will improve everyone’s experience of your website.

Additionally, MSL offers:

• Responsive & Accessible Websites: Modern, user-centric designs with intuitive navigation and mobile responsiveness. Adhering to WCAG standards ensures everyone can access your site and find what they need effortlessly.
• Design Options & Content Management: Non-technical staff can create and manage content easily using our editor. From main sites to microsites for events or shops, we provide flexibility to suit your needs. Choose from bespoke designs or ready-to-use templates, crafted by our talented design team.

Not a member of the MSL Community yet? Contact us today to learn more about MSL’s solutions.

*Global mobile traffic 2024 | Statista